Universal Credit and your entitlement
Universal Credit is the main benefit for people on a low income or out of work. If you are aged 18 or over (with some exceptions for 16 and 17 year olds), live in the UK, and have savings of £16,000 or less, you may be eligible. We can help you check your entitlement and support you through the application.
Universal Credit: checking if you are eligible
If you are on a low income, out of work, or struggling with living costs, you may be able to claim Universal Credit (UC). It can feel confusing to work out whether you qualify, but we can help you check and support you through the process.
Universal Credit is available whether you are out of work, working (including part-time or self-employed), or unable to work because of a health condition.
Basic eligibility
To claim Universal Credit, you must:
- Live in the UK
- Be aged 18 or over (there are some exceptions if you are 16 or 17, see below)
- Be under State Pension age
- Have £16,000 or less in savings, money, and investments
You can use a benefits calculator to get an estimate of what you might be entitled to.
If you are an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen
You and your family may also need settled or pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme to claim Universal Credit. You can check if you can still apply to the EU Settlement Scheme on GOV.UK.
If you live with a partner
You and your partner must make a joint claim for Universal Credit, even if your partner is not eligible themselves. How much you receive will depend on both your incomes and savings.
If one of you has reached State Pension age
If only one of you has reached State Pension age, you can still claim Universal Credit together as a couple. Your claim will stop when you have both reached State Pension age.
If you are currently getting Pension Credit, be aware that it will stop if you or your partner make a Universal Credit claim. You will usually be better off staying on Pension Credit. You can check using a benefits calculator.
If you are studying or in training
You can claim Universal Credit while in full-time education if any of the following apply:
- You live with a partner who is eligible for Universal Credit
- You are responsible for a child, either as a single person or as part of a couple
- You have reached State Pension age and live with a partner who is below State Pension age
- You have received a Migration Notice letter telling you to move to Universal Credit
You can also claim if you are 21 or under, studying any qualification up to A level or equivalent, and do not have parental support.
You may be able to claim if you are studying part-time or doing a course for which no student loan or finance is available.
For more detail, check the guidance about claiming Universal Credit as a student on GOV.UK.
Students with disabilities or health conditions
If you are in full-time education and have been assessed as having limited capability for work through a Work Capability Assessment before starting your course, you may be able to claim. You must also be entitled to one of the following:
- Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- Attendance Allowance
- Armed Forces Independence Payment
- Adult Disability Payment (ADP) in Scotland
- Child Disability Payment (CDP) in Scotland
- Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) in Scotland
- Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA) in Scotland
If you are 16 or 17
Although Universal Credit usually requires you to be 18, you can claim if any of the following apply:
- You have a health condition or disability with medical evidence (such as a fit note)
- You are caring for someone who gets a health or disability-related benefit
- A medical professional has said you are nearing the end of life
- You are responsible for a child
- You live with a partner who has responsibility for a child and is eligible for Universal Credit
- You are pregnant and expecting your baby in the next 11 weeks
- You have had a baby in the last 15 weeks
- You do not have parental support (for example, you do not live with your parents and are not under local authority care)
You can find out more on the GOV.UK Universal Credit page.
Get help
Working out whether you qualify for Universal Credit can be confusing, especially if your situation is complicated. We can help you check your entitlement, gather the right documents, and support you through the application.
- Email us at info@youthlegal.org.uk
- Call us on 020 3195 1906
- Fill in our contact form and we'll get back to you
All our advice is free and confidential.